Holland America Line Cruise Tips & Money-Saving Tricks for 2024
If you’re planning a cruise with Holland America Line, you’re in for a treat! With its traditional cruise style and mid-size ship charm, a vacation on Holland America is a unique experience unlike any other cruise line, and there are some things we just didn’t know when we started cruising again recently with Holland America. Here are 16 things we learned that can make your cruise experience even better.
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned HAL cruiser, you’ll love these Holland American Line insider hacks to make your voyage the very best it can be and save some money along the way!
1. Laundry Made Easy
This first tip is one of my favorite PERKS of cruising with Holland America. Holland America has a laundry package that makes me feel more at home when I cruise. Okay, I get it- you may be thinking, “I have no interest in doing laundry on my cruise.” I get it, and I don’t either, but here’s the thing- if you choose to pack light for a cruise, or in our case, go carry-on only, laundry may be a necessary reality. Okay, so here’s the scoop on laundry and what makes it so special with Holland America. There’s no self-service laundry on HAL ships, but they offer a laundry package unlike any other cruise line. You can snag a laundry or pressing package for your entire cruise for a very low price. You can buy the package on the website before your cruise, or once you board, and you get unlimited laundry for your entire voyage. Just pack up the little bag, itemize your laundry contents, and the laundry will come back to you in one of these adorable baskets, folded neatly. You may even find your undies wrapped in tissue. This is living, folks!
Pro tip: plan to send off your last load a few days before the cruise ends because there is a cutoff time for that last load of laundry. Your room steward can hook you up with all the details. Trust me, coming home with a suitcase full of clean clothes is a game-changer!
2. Royal Dutch Tea – A New Experience
Holland America has rolled out a brand new tea concept called Royal Dutch Tea. This isn’t your average afternoon tea, folks. It’s a nod to HAL’s Dutch heritage with some seriously delicious treats. The best part? It’s included in your cruise fare, and it’s usually offered on sea days during your cruise. You’ll head to the main dining room, where you’re served tea and a tower of sweet and savory afternoon snacks. Think coronation chicken on wheat, bay shrimp on brioche, and unbelievably yummy Dutch sweets like stroopwafel, dutch butter cake, and ducth cream puffs.
Keep an eye out for this unique experience on your next sailing, and be sure to arrive early, as this experience is very popular.
3. Excursion Tickets Go Digital
This next tip may surprise you. Holland America is making a big change and doing away with paper shore excursion tickets. Yep, you heard that right. Gone are the days of paper excursion tickets! HAL’s gone ticketless, so you’ll find your shore excursion tickets in the Holland America Line app. Here’s something else that’s great to know- you’ll want to check your stateroom TV for tour times and meeting location changes. Just tune into the shore excursions area right in your room, and the shore excursions team will post updates there if anything changes with your tour. Of course, you can always visit the shore excursions desk when they’re open for in-person help.
4. Dining Room Hacks
Holland America’s main dining rooms offer both traditional set-time dining and anytime dining. If you don’t get assigned dining on your cruise and you’re not a fan of the anytime dining roulette, where you have to wait in line and you’re never sure what type of table you’ll get, here’s what you do. On day one, head to the main dining room during their maitre d office hours, which you’ll find in your newsletter or the app. Ask to make a reservation for a standing table for the same time each night of your cruise. And here’s the real insider trick – make the earliest possible reservation for the best shot at snagging that perfect table. You’ll now be able to head to the entrance of the dining room for guests WITH reservations, and minimize your time spent waiting in the anytime dining line. You’re welcome!
5. Internet Package Savings
These days, most of us have to stay connected while at sea. It’s not my favorite reality about cruising, but it’s a reality. Here’s our internet package hack for you. If you buy a multi-device internet package, you can share easily it with your cabin mates to save money. The secret? Everyone needs to use the same Navigator app login. It’s that simple, and you can save hundreds of dollars by using one internet package for your cruising party.
6. Dress Code Reality Check
When you think of Holland America, you may wonder fi the dress code is ultra dressy, stuffy, or even old school. In reality, Holland America might not be as dressy as you think. Sure, there are two dressy or formal nights on a 7-night cruise, but we’ve seen everything from polo shirts to jeans in the dining room. And if you’re heading to Alaska? Super casual. Many guests rock the same clothes they wore on their shore excursion to dinner. Think comfy and practical. Now, it’s important to know that Holland America still has those formal nights, but they are optional, so if you’re looking for more of a jeans and shorts type of vacation, you can simply head to the buffet restaurants on those more fancy nights, and skip the fanfare.
7. Orange You Glad It’s Dutch Night?
Speaking of dressing up, Holland American has a totally unique tradition, and you won’t find it anywhere else! Get ready for Dutch Day, also known as Orange Night, the Orange Party, or the Dutch Dinner. Let’s back up a little and explain. The “Dutch Day” experience celebrates the cruise line’s more than 150-year history that began in the Netherlands. Whether your cruise takes you to Alaska, Europe, Asia or the Caribbean, you’ll find this fun day on every cruise. There will be a Dutch dinner in the main Dining Room, with many of the dishes also offered in the casual Lido Market. Dutch-inspired main course selections include Bami Goreng, a stir-fried noodle dish with chicken sate and peanut sauce; Pan-Fried Dover Sole with lemon butter; and Hodge Podge Klapstuk with chateau potatoes. For dessert, a Bosche Bol (large, chocolate-covered cream puff), Tompouce (Dutch mille-feuille pastry), or a slice of traditional Dutch Apple Pie provide the perfect sweet ending to the meal.
Then, at night, there’s the Orange Party with live music, cocktails and treats. The Orange Party pays tribute to the company’s Dutch heritage (orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family) and YOU are invited to wear orange attire and accessories. During the after-dinner party, special orange-themed cocktails are available while servers pass around finger-foods and sweets.
It’s a fun HAL tradition where you’ll see splashes of orange everywhere. You can wear orange if you’d like, but if you forget to pack something, The gift shops even sell orange gear, so you can get your Dutch on!
8. Minimal Announcements = Maximum Relaxation
If you’re not a fan of constant announcements, you’re in luck. HAL keeps it chill with minimal announcements. You’ll usually hear from the Cruise Director when docking and from the Captain around midday. It’s all about that peaceful cruise life and we love this subtle touch when cruising on Holland America.
9. Drink Packages Galore
Alright, let’s talk drinks! HAL offers several drink packages to suit different tastes and budgets. There’s the Quench Package for non-alcoholic drinks, the Signature Package for house wines and spirits, and the Elite Package for premium brands. Each package has its perks, so choose the one that fits your style. If you’re not into the drink packages, read on to tip #12 because it will save you some serious money on drinks!
10. Sneaky Soda Tip
Here’s a little secret: while you can’t bring sodas on board at embarkation, we’ve had no issues bringing a few unopened cans back on port days. Just keep it reasonable, and you should be fine.
11. Little Touches That Make HAL Special
Keep your eyes peeled for those little HAL touches that make your cruise extra special. One of my favorites? The days of the week on the elevator carpet. It’s those small details that really make the experience, and make cruising with Holland America unlike any other cruise line!
12. Happy Hour Hack
If you’ve skipped the drink package, listen up! Watch for happy hours where drinks are 50% off. These usually happen between 4 PM and 5 PM at one or two bars around the ship. It’s a great way to enjoy a cocktail without breaking the bank. The bartenders are happy to answer any questions you may have, and you’re likely to meet new friends at these popular happy hour timeframes.
13. Free Beverage Rundown
Let’s talk freebies! There are lots of free beverages around the ship, and some of them are easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. You can enjoy drip coffee at all meals, hot tea, juices at breakfast, lemonade, iced tea, and water without spending a dime. When in doubt, ask your server in the restaurant what is included at no extra charge, to make sure you’re taking advantage of the included stuff.
14. Awesome Venues to Check Out
Holland America ships have a few venues that top our list of favorite spots to hang out. The first, comes with a view. Don’t miss the Crow’s Nest! It’s a fantastic spot to play games, grab a drink, and soak in those incredible views. And if you’re on a ship with the High Score arcade, it’s a must-visit for some fun competition. On some ships, high score doubles as the teen club, so check the arcade hours early in the cruise, and head up for some classic pinball or skeeball.
15. Regional Food and Drink Alert
Keep your eyes (and taste buds) open for regional food and drink options. HAL does an amazing job of incorporating local flavors into their menus.
HAL does an amazing job of incorporating local flavors into its menus, especially seafood. HAL lhas something called the Global Fresh Fish Program, with more than 80 varieties of fresh fish sourced locally from across their worldwide network. If you want to see more about what’s offered in your region, check out the port to plate guide on HAL website.
16. Alaska Cruise Bonus: Don’t Miss the Brunch!
If you’re cruising to Alaska with HAL, the Alaska brunch is a can’t-miss event. Usually held on one of the last days of the cruise, on a sea day, they bring out a special menu with Alaskan touches. We’re talking berry smoothies, goat cheese with berries, blueberry pancakes, Monte Cristo sandwiches, and decadent desserts. It’s a culinary journey through the Last Frontier!
And there you have it, cruisers! Sixteen amazing tips to make your Holland America Line cruise absolutely unforgettable. If you found these tips helpful, don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to CruiseTipsTV on YouTube for more tips and tricks!
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